Collapsible easel



Dec. 17, 1963 M. TURKIN 3,114,215

COLLAPSIBLE EASEL Filed April 17, 1962 45 45 H I4 4G JNVENTOR. MARSHALL TUQKl N BY United States atent 3,114,215 COLLAPSIELE EASEL Marshall Turkin, 7935 Crespi Elvd, Miami Beach, Fla. Filed Apr. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 188,036 2 Claims. (Cl. 45129) This invention relates to supporting devices and is more particularly directed to a collapsible easel such as are used to support artists canvases and the like.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible easel which can be readily converted to an extended condition for its normal use and just as readily retracted to a compact condition for easy carrying and handling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible easel which is simple in construction, easily converted to its retracted or to its extended position and economical in cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible easel with adjustable brackets for retaining canvases of various sizes thereon with pivoted stop members to permit carrying the easel with the canvas positioned on the brackets.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an easel with a pivoted anchor member to secure an easel against movement or tipping as occurs when a wind blows against it.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

:FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of my easel shown in its retracted position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of my easel shown in its extended position ready for use.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are enlarged views of a rear support leg fastening device.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral refers to a collapsible easel constructed in accordance with my invention consisting of a pair of U-shaped telescopically mounted tubular members 11 and 12 forming the body of the easel 111. As best shown by FIGURE 3 the outside diameter of the tubular member 11 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tubular member 12 to permit the tubular member 11 to slide inside the tubular member 12. A pair of collars 43 secured to the ends of the tubular member 12 are provided with adjustable wing bolts 13 for fastening the tubular members 11 and 12 together when tightened and will maintain the members 11 and 12 at any desired position whether in its completely retracted position as shown by FIGURE 1 or its extended position as shown by FIGURE 3.

Secured to the base portion of the U-shaped member 11 by bolts 18 and 19 is a bracket or leg support 14 forming the support for the extensible legs 15. Each of the legs 15 is L-shaped having a horizontal portion 16 pivotally secured to the bracket 14 as at 17 by a rivet fastened thereto adjacent the ends of the leg support bracket 14. The bracket 14 is provided with a pair of threaded bores 20 for receiving wing bolts 21 that extend through threaded bores 22 in the leg support bracket 1 Each of the horizontal members 16 of the legs 16 is provided with r we a further threaded bore 23 so positioned thereon that when the legs 15 are pivoted from their extended position as shown by FIGURE 3 to the retracted position shown by FIGURE 1 the bores 25 and 20 will become aligned to receive the bolts 21 for securing the legs 15 in position. L-shaped foot members 24 are bolted to the lower portions of the leg members 15 to permit the easel 10 to be tilted slightly forward of the vertical toward the user of the easel yet permit the easel 11 to remain upright.

Normally, the easel 111 is used to hold a canvas tilted slightly away from the user with leg member 25 supporting the easel 111. The leg member 25 consists of a pair of tubular members 26 and 27 telescopically mounted one within the other. The leg member 27 is provided at approximately its midportion with a collar 28 to which lower ends of arm members 29 are pivotally mounted as at 321. The upper ends of the arm members 29 are pivotally secured as at 31 to the upper portion of the U-shaped body member 12. At the lower end of the tubular leg 26 there is fastened a collar 32 with an anchoring member 33 pivotally secured thereto as at 34. The tubular leg members 26 and 27 are adjustably secured together by means of a bolt 35 threadedly mounted on a collar 36 that is secured to the lower end of the tubular leg member 27. By threading the bolt 35 through the collar 36, the bolt 35- will engage the side wall of the telescopically mounted leg member 2 6 to secure the leg members 26 and 27 together. Unthreading the bolt 35 will permit release of the leg member 26 and the latter to slide within the leg member 27. To permit angular adjustment between the arms 29 and the leg members 27 and 26, the lower end of one of the arm members 29 is provided with a pair of threaded bores 37 and 38 to alternately receive a wing bolt 39 for fastening the arm members 2's to the leg member 27. When the wing bolt 39 is placed in the bore 37 and threaded tightly to engage the leg member 27, the arm members 29 and the leg member assembly 25 will be in alignment as shown by FIGURE 3. However, it due to any reason, the easel 18 has to be tilted but the lower end of the leg member 26 cannot be positioned removed from the base of the easel 10, the wing bolt 39 is then placed in the bore 38 and tightened therein to position the leg mem-- bers 2:7, 26 in a more nearly vertical position as shown by FIGURE 5.

Adjustable means are provided for holding canvasses thereon comprising brackets 40 and 41 having an L- shaped cross section with a collar 42 fastened at each end of each of the brackets 49 and 41. The collars 42 are each provided with a wing bolt 44 for adjustably securing the brackets 40 and 41 on the tubular body member 12. On one end of each of the brackets 40 and 41 is a pivoted stop member 45 which serves as a support for the side of a canvas placed between the brackets 4i and 41 as one carries the easel 10 with one hand grasping the tubular member 12 and holding the latter horizontally. The stop members 45 which are pivoted to the brackets :13 and 41 as at 16 are usually pivoted out of alignment with the brackets 40 and 41 to permit large canvasses to be retained thereon.

It is to be noted that the bolt 18 which fastens the leg support bracket 14 to the U-shaped tubular body member 11 extends upwardly of the tubular member 11 as shown by FIGURE 3, so that when the easel 16 is placed in its retracted position, the lower end of the leg member 26 is received by the end of the bolt 18 while the upper end of the leg member 12 is frictionally engaged with the upper portion of the tubularbody member.

From the above description taken in connection with the drawing, it can be seen that my sturdy easel 111 may be readily converted from a compact and easily carried device to an extended, stable upright stand that will hold a canvas properly for a person to work on it and yet not be easily upset.

To extend the easel 19 from its retracted or carrying position, the legs are first extended. This is done by removing the bolts 21 from the bores 23 of the horizontal members 16 of the legs 15, swing the legs 15 about the pivots 17 until the bores 22 are aligned with the bores 29 in the bracket 14 :When the bolts 21 are threaded therein. The legs are new in their extended position as shown by FIGURE 3.

The wing bolts 13 now loosened and the tubular body member 12 made to slide upwardly on the tubular body member ll to the desired height. Then the bolts '13 are tightened. The upper end of the leg member 12 is now grasped and pulled rearwardly of the easel ll) pivoting the arm members 29 at the pivot pins 311. The leg member 29 will swing away from the body member 12 while the 1 wer end of the leg member 27 will become free of the bolt 18. The Wing bolt 35 is now loosened and the leg member 25 is slid outwardly of the leg member 27 until it reaches the ground on which it rests placing the easel it at the desired vertical position. The wing bolt is tightened and the person positioning the easel It? will step on the anchor member 33 causing it to swing about the pivot pin 34 and enter into the ground to anchor the easel 10. The canvas retaining brackets 43, 41 are adjusted on the body member 12 to retain the canvas to be worked on. If one wishes to move the easel without disturbing the canvas, the anchor member 33 is swung out of the contact with the ground and the leg members 26, 27 are swung towards 1e body members 11, 12. The stop members 45 are pivoted to a position in alignment with the brackets ill, ll and the canvas resting thereon is slid to engage the stop members 45. The easel is then grasped at the body member 12 furthest removed from the stop members 45 and the easel 10 along with the canvas can now be carried easily.

T 0 return the easel 1% to its retracted condition after the canvas has been removed, the wing bolt 35 is loosened and the leg member 26 is slid upwardly in the leg member 27 with the lower end of the leg member 26 received by the free end of the bolt 18. The pair of wing bolts 13 are loosened and the body member 12 is made to slide downwardly on the body member 11. The wing bolts 13 are then tightened. The upper end of the leg member 27 is placed against the top portion of the body member 12 and the leg assembly 25 is pushed in the direction of the body members 11 and 12 arriving at the position shown by FIGURES 1 and 2 in alignment with the body members 11 and 12. The wing bolts 21 are then removed from the member 16 of the leg members 15 and 4% the latter are swung on their pivot pins 17 until the bores 23 and 2-9 are aligned. The bolts 21 are then threaded therein to secure the legs 15 in their retracted position.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A collapsible easel comprising a body portion having a pair of U-shaped tubular members, means telescopically mounting said tubular members, a pair of adjustable bracket means mounted on one of said pair of tubular members for holding a canvas, a leg support bracket mounted on the other of said tubular members, a pair of L-shaped leg members, means pivotally mounting said L-shaped leg members to said leg support bracket for extending and retracting said leg members, a further leg assembly pivotally mounted at its upper portion to said one of said pair of tubular members, said further leg assembly having a pair of telescopically mounted tubular cg members, adjustable locking means for securing said pair of tubular leg members at retracted or extended positions, receiving means mounted on the other of said U-shaped tubular members for receiving the free end of said pair of tubular leg members when the leg assembly has been pivoted to its retracted position.

2. A collapsible easel comprising a body portion having a pair of U-shaped tubular members, means telescopically mounting said tubular members, a pair of adjustable bracket means mounted on one of said pair of tubular members for holding a canvas, :1 leg support bracket mounted on the other of said tubular members, a pair of L-shaped leg members, means pivotally mounting said L-shaped leg members to said leg support bracket for extending and retractin said leg members, a further leg assembly pivotally mounted at its upper portion to said pair of tubular members, said further leg assembly having a pair of telescopically mounted tubular leg members, adjustable locking means for securing said pair of tubular leg members at retracted or extended positions, receiving means mounted on the other of said U-shaped tubular members for receiving the free end of said pair of tubular leg members when the leg assembly has been pivoted to its retracted position, and anchoring means pivotally mounted on said free of said pair of tubular leg members for securing said easel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,550,550 Goodstein Apr. 24, 1951 2,744,712 Brandt May 8, 1956 2,872,252 Konkle Feb. 3, 1959 3,034,754 Trindl May 15, 1962 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE EASEL COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF U-SHAPED TUBULAR MEMBERS, MEANS TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTING SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS, A PAIR OF ADJUSTABLE BRACKET MEANS MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID PAIR OF TUBULAR MEMBERS FOR HOLDING A CANVAS, A LEG SUPPORT BRACKET MOUNTED ON THE OTHER OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS, A PAIR OF L-SHAPED LEG MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID L-SHAPED LEG MEMBERS TO SAID LEG SUPPORT BRACKET FOR EXTENDING AND RETRACTING SAID LEG MEMBERS, A FURTHER LEG ASSEMBLY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS UPPER PORTION TO SAID ONE OF SAID PAIR OF TUBULAR MEMBERS, SAID FURTHER LEG ASSEMBLY HAVING A PAIR OF TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED TUBULAR LEG MEMBERS, ADJUSTABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PAIR OF TUBULAR LEG MEMBERS AT RETRACTED OR EXTENDED POSITIONS, RECEIVING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE OTHER OF SAID U-SHAPED TUBULAR MEMBERS FOR RECEIVING THE FREE END OF SAID PAIR OF TUBULAR LEG MEMBERS WHEN THE LEG ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN PIVOTED TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION. 